Three employees at Cathy’s Flowers and Gifts in Russellville won prizes competing in a floral version of cupcake wars at the 60th annual Arkansas Florist Convention Aug. 17-19 at the Hot Springs Convention Center.

Krystle Manning said she was just carrying on a family tradition when she entered the Arkansas Scholarship competition.

Manning’s grandmother owned the flower shop for 22 years before selling to Manning’s parents. Manning’s dad, Joe Turner, was the 2001 president of the Arkansas Floral Board of Directors.

Manning won second overall in the scholarship competition and first in the funeral category and her co-worker, Lance Shingleur, won first place overall and first in the wedding and surprise package categories.

Shingleur, who has only been a floral designer for one year, said he was more than surprised to be the overall winner.

“It was exciting to win,” Shingleur said. “I didn’t expect to win my first year, it was kind of mind-blowing. It hasn’t really hit me yet.”

Shingleur and Manning created three floral designs in two hours. Each contestant designed a wedding bouquet, a funeral arrangement and a corsage, which was the surprise package category this year.

Shingleur said not knowing what flowers will be used until the competition added a degree of difficulty to the challenge. Every contestant was given the same flowers and products to work with.

“My corsage was really simple, but really clean and my mechanics were covered,” Shingleur said of his winning design. “My bridal bouquet had three roses and a few leafs. It was my leaf work that really got my creativity across.”

Shingleur won $1,000 in scholarship money and Manning won $600 in scholarship money.

Manning said she and Shingleur plan to attend continued floral education classes in Oklahoma City with the money.

“I was honored to not only represent the flower shop, but my family at the competition,” Manning said. “I have big shoes to fill. I look forward to next year’s competition.”

Next year, Shingleur will compete in the Arkansas Cup, a competition designed for past scholarship winners.

Mike Koch, a designer at Cathy’s Flowers, placed fourth in the Arkansas Cup this year and is a previous winner of the Cup.

Carrying on the family tradition, Manning was elected to the Arkansas Floral Board of Directors while at the convention.